Endocrine Abstracts

Managing diabetes as a chronic health condition is never ending and many young people, especially teenagers, would like a ‘day off’. Managing diabetes alongside the normal rigours of adolescence means that the struggle with independence and acceptance of responsibility can have a knock-on impact upon how well patients engage in clinic appointments and their overall diabetes care. This in turn impacts upon parents; who may over- or under-compensate to address this, bu...

We are living through an exciting period during which new medical treatments are emerging for a range of rare bone diseases. These include monoclonal antibodies, small molecules and repurposed as well as truly innovative drugs. Whilst underlying the use of them all is an increased understanding of some aspect of bone biology, presently each sits at a different point on the pathway from bench to bedside. Asfotase alfa (bone-targeted alkaline phosphatase) is licensed for the tre...

The scientific abstract provides the researcher with an opportunity to communicate their research efforts concisely to a wider target audience. Most commonly, this is as part of a research article or submission to scientific meeting, and in each situation, the preparation of a well-written abstract will enhance the likelihood of a successful outcome (e.g. an article being sent for peer-review, or conference abstract being accepted for oral presentation). Indeed, a well-structu...

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder which affects 3/1000 of the general population and is associated with excess morbidity and mortality. Clinical practice tends to vary in terms of investigations, monitoring, decisions on intervention, and follow up. Audits in several European countries have previously demonstrated marked variation and divergence from best practice recommendations.Methods: This project used the ...

Although not normally considered an oestrogen responsive tissue, compelling evidence now exists suggesting that the colon is responsive to oestrogenic effects. Results from the Women’s Health Initiative demonstrated that post-menopausal women taking oestrogen and progestins as hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) had a 40% reduction in developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Intriguingly, patients taking oestrogen supplements at the time of CRC diagnosis presented a much more ad...

Long bone fractures are common in childhood. However, recurrent fractures and certain types of fractures may indicate an underlying problem such as bone fragility. It is important to be able to identify those children who require closer evaluation and to consider how best to investigate such children. This should be done with an understanding of the likelihood and range of disease that may present with fractures, as well as the role of various modes of assessment. For those wi...

A number of challenges are faced by those wishing to pursue a career as an academic clinician. Perhaps the most obvious hurdle for those at a junior stage of research career, is achieving sufficient academic success to attract ongoing research funding, whilst achieving the clinical standards required for the completion of training and in due course, revalidation. The introduction of the integrated academic clinical training program has helped address this balance, improving op...

Many post-doctoral scientists still believe that the road to academic success follows the traditional university career trajectory. Although some lectureship and fellowship positions will inevitably be filled by those who have chosen this path, forward-thinking universities now seek principal investigators who have international collaborations and industry links, supported by unique expertise and knowledge on many divergent aspects of scientific research. But as the economic d...

A clinically oriented, whistlestop tour through bone biology for the specialist nurse working in paediatric endocrinology, including bone growth, control of serum calcium, vitamin D metabolism and bisphosphonate therapy....

Incidentalomas are common affecting 1% and 7% of 40 and 70 year olds respectively. By contrast endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is excessively rare. 10% of cases of Cushing’s syndrome are caused by an autonomous adrenal tumour where, having confirmed the diagnosis (symptoms and signs, cortisol excess, suppressed ACTH, suppressed contralateral adrenal) the treatment of choice is indeed adrenalectomy. Complexities arise around the suggestion that 10–15% of all incide...